The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-07-30

writing article to leave blank for names
! the men nevor called to sipn
aud unless they came back and muir.
dered and robbed the women thew
would have been out $40; am certain
never saw an axe in the kitchen; went
out Tuesday morning to see II It was In the
coal house and didn't find 1t there and
concluded tho axe In the tub was ours
had used the axe Monday but don't know
where ! left it-thlnk 1t was left in the
orchard; had shRrpened the axe soon at.
tor coming homo from West; sharpened
1t at the blacksmith shop. Mrs. Sturgeon
was at McWha house once; don't know
whether the axe was in kitchen then.
Whom frat saw the bodies l saw CABS on
their. heads but didn't notice they were
wrong side out, nor that the cap string
was drawn tight around my wifs's neck |;
was not thinking OF the cap strings but
only OF my dead wife; noticed her head
was bloody; only looked at it moment
and with confused glance took in the de-
tails. f $500
| F5s LIFTING HIS wIFE's BODY.
raised my wifs up but didn't SEQ the
deep cash on the side Of her head nearly
aevering 1t from the body; laid the body
down IN nearly the same position |. oc.
cupied when l entered the room; her
head fell over when raised but don't know
whether because tho body was limp or
on account OF the deep cash in the back
Of her head; saw no stocking turned inside
out; saw garments at Coronera inquest
but made no complete examination of
them rs tho room was dark; was about
three o'clock when was examined; saw
no hair detached from the heads OF the
women and did not see anybody find hairs
IN the tub; McCloud WAS at the ecene Of
the murder on Wednesday and we sat
down on the grass together aud answer
ed some questions he asked; don't recol-
lect OF speaking Of murder as printed in
Wednesday morning papers; proba.
bly, said to McCloud as to others
that l was willing TO be arrested !;
could prove entire innocence and thus
find the guilty party; don't recollect
Sheriff being there at that time; McCloud
asked me how it came about, but didn't
say to him TO sit down and I would tell
all about it; didn't say the men took out
a roll OF money, but some money; men
seemed to have considerable money as
they took a $50 bill out OF roll to be
charged; probably told McCloud about
my wife saying her mother would change
the money don't remember clearly about
these little things but they IRE facts; If
didn't tell him he made very good
guess about what occurred have no par
ticular recollection what ! did cay, but
know what didn't say; don't think I
said anything about the 500; might have
ssid something about my losing $3.50 aud
shout missing gold watch never said Mrs.
McWha showed kitchen door against some
one outside; neither did I say Mrs. Nc.
Wha said it WAS "Paddies" on the rail.
road; don't remember saying ANYTHING
about meeting the lady in buggy because
didn't know anything about it at that
time. -: ~ =. =, - az ~
A TALK WITH N'cLouD.
I had talk with Mr.. McCloud in iail;
was something said about the habit OF
the women eating things left over; don't
think said anything about tramps com.
hitting murder; narrated to him that two
men we're seen at Clifton brickyard and
that they should be followed and arrested
to be identified il they were the three men
who rented the lot, and il they we're the
same believed them to DO the murder
ers; did not accuse these men OF murder
because I hadn't sesm them; used all nv
exertions to have authorities bring them
back and identify them il possible
and make them give an account OF
themselves, as their actions seemed
very suspicious to me; spoke about
Albert Lee knowing the secret of the
box with false bottom which contained the
bonds; OF the existence OF the bonds I
knew nothing; did say that he knew more
about the house than did; MCUloud
asked il thought that Lee committed the
murder; said he had more motive than
l had. Here Baker added in a low voice,
'and I believe it, tool Baker continued:
Albert Lee was at the house on Wednes-
day OF Thursday preceding the murder,
but l didn't mention the fact to McOloud !;
Dan Swearengcn didn't say anything
about the shoes; my memory is clear on
this point; never said anything about
giving up the theory that the murder was
committed at night because OF disclosure
about the shoes; may have said to Nc.
Cloud that at first thought the women
were killed in bed, but as facts developed
came to the conclusion that they were not
murdered while asleep. 80. "a, ,.'.sl. 81
THEY MADE HIM TIRED.
At this point Baker complained OF a
violent headache, and very petulsntly
said he didn't like to answer the came
question 80 many times. Reauming,
Baker said: Didn't say to McCloud there
WIS plenty OF time tor the three men 10
return and murder them, nor that could
prove by Sam Rslston that he saw me in
the orchard not twenty minutes before
left for the train; left the house at 8 80,
80 it would have been impossible for me
to have committed the murder in that
time; never compared my watch with
Squire Browne witch and found it 20
minutes fast; can't eGy much about the
Coroner's report or what I said at inouest,
Here followed long discussion by
counsel about admitting the Coroner's re-.
port, and the prosecution said they pro.
posed to offer the report in evidence of
the statements made by Baker to impesch
his testimony before the court. s,,E.ll W
Baker continuedI At tho time Mrs.
SWearin2en was there and my wife and I
were at the orchard, if the kitchen window
had been darkened 1t would still be dark.
ened when ! LETT the house; the old lady
said only one peraon called that afternoon
besides my money and few letters and
those certificates Of stock nothing was
taken to my knowledge. Answering Dol.
Moore, Baker said that from January !,
flsS4 until he returned from the West he
had earned over 81, 900 and had contribu
ted to the support OF his wife and chill
dren. Answering Mr.. McSweeney Baker
!, said he never borrowed any sum from hi
vile and gave stock as security never
7 sought advice O.! counsel about bis right.
! II his wife died without will while Mrs
! McWha's will was in existence; knew
4 nothing OF Mrs. McWha making recen
= will and never wrote to an attorney re
i Rarding the matter; didn't know wher
Mrs. McWha kept her money, nor couldn'